Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration on January 20 has stirred up quite the conversation online. The president-elect announced on Friday that his big day would be moved indoors because of “very cold weather.” While Trump says the change is about keeping everyone safe, many online couldn’t resist poking fun at the decision. Is it really about the weather, or is there more to the story?
Trump posted on his Truth Social account that the decision to move the event indoors was to protect guests, law enforcement, and even police dogs from the freezing temperatures. “I don’t want to see people hurt or injured in any way,” he wrote. He also warned his supporters to “dress warmly” if they planned to attend.
Trump confirms his Inauguration will be held indoors… but look at what he says
“I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.” 🤔
He then says they will open the Capitol One Arena on Monday for the live viewing of the event, where he will join after he is sworn in.… pic.twitter.com/IkDQmuXzj0
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) January 17, 2025
While the forecast predicts icy weather on January 20, this isn’t the first time an inauguration has faced freezing temperatures. In 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated in Washington, D.C., after eight inches of snow fell overnight. The temperature that day was 22°F, but Kennedy still delivered his iconic speech outside, saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Similarly, Obama braved icy temperatures during his first inauguration in 2009 without moving the event indoors.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
As soon as the announcement went public, people started cracking jokes online. Former political strategist David Axelrod tweeted, “In ’61, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated on the Capitol steps, in windchills of 7 degrees. It was almost as cold for Obama in ’09. Or did [Trump] just fear small crowds?”
In ’61, John F. Kennedy was Inaugurated on the Capitol steps, in windchills of 7 degrees. It was almost as cold for Obama in ’09.
In fairness, Trump IS more than 3 decades older than JFK & Obama were.
Or did he just fear small crowds? pic.twitter.com/3TFJil3HqF— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) January 17, 2025
Many agreed, hinting that Trump might be more concerned about his image than the weather. One Twitter user replied, “For an administration (that) is all about the tough guy culture, they certainly don’t seem that tough. I’ve sat outside in colder temps for hours, but I am dedicated. Guess he fears his cult followers won’t be that dedicated and that his hair will get messed up with a hat.”
For an administration is all about the tough guy culture, they certainly don’t seem that tough. I’ve sat outside in colder temps for hours, but I’m dedicated. Guess he fears his cult followers won’t be that dedicated and that his hair will get messed up with a hat.
— Nicole Wilson (@nicwilly619) January 17, 2025
Others brought up Trump’s long-standing obsession with crowd sizes. Back in 2017, Trump falsely claimed that his inauguration had the largest audience in history. Photos from the event showed the crowd was much smaller than Barack Obama’s in 2009. To defend Trump’s claim, then-Press Secretary Sean Spicer famously declared, “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration. Period.” That moment became one of the most mocked episodes of Trump’s presidency, and now, critics are joking that Trump’s move indoors could be a way to avoid another embarrassment.
The teasing didn’t stop there. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz joined the fun, posting a snowy photo of himself with the caption, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.”
There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. https://t.co/t4EIhA31n0 pic.twitter.com/vndLPf4Bot
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) January 17, 2025
Others joked that moving the inauguration indoors was more about Trump’s comfort than safety.
Exactly.🎯
Trump has never given a flying fu*k about anyone’s comfort but his own his entire life, so he did not suddenly start caring now.
He wanted this inauguration to be a grand spectacle, but realized it would be a major snooze fest, so he pulled-the-plug at the 11th hour. pic.twitter.com/6vUA4bfRDP
— Later is NOW! (@AllOneProblem) January 18, 2025
Democratic Senator Chris Coons and CNN commentator Bakari Sellers also chimed in, hinting that Trump may be more worried about the optics of small crowds.
8 years later, Donald Trump is still trying to find ways to make his first inauguration crowd seem bigger. https://t.co/kskELBaaLa
— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) January 17, 2025
Sources (just me): Trump moves inauguration indoors out of fear of a small crowd.
— Bakari Sellers (@Bakari_Sellers) January 17, 2025
Over the years, Trump has shown a fixation on appearances, often putting image over substance. For example, reports revealed that official photos of his 2017 inauguration were edited to make the crowd look more significant. This obsession with optics even led to jokes by former President Obama, who once referred to Trump’s “weird obsession with crowd sizes.”
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
